Looking for trip reports from people that stayed offsite...

[Keli]

Does anyone know of any trip reports from people that stayed offsite? I've been looking at trip reports but they've all been folks that stayed onsite. I'm planning a little different vacation this year and I'd like to see what others that stayed offsite did. Thanks!!

 

[sympatico]

We stay offsite all the time. We visit Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, go shopping, orange picking, stay at the pool home to relax and swim, go sight seeing, go to the beach on both sides, dinner shows, Cirque du Soleil, golf and mini golf etc. There's different local festivals and events all year, Legoland will be opening this fall, there's Gatorland, Titanic Museum, Ripley's, Wonderworks, Kennedy Space Center etc.
It all depends whether we're having a theme park marathon visit or just a relaxing visit.

 

[BrerMama]

I have some book marked. These are people who stayed at Windsor Hills & Windsor Palms, I think.

http://www.www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2595815
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2425345&highlight=windsor+hills

 

[BrerMama]

Here's one where they stayed at Bonnet Creek:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2353018

Sheraton Vistana:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2221796

Windsor Hills:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=32710526#post32710526

 

[sk8jdgca]

here is mine...but i never did finish http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2063089

 

[kathy884]

We did a seven day condo stay at Orange Lake last March. Here's what we did. (Loved the trip)

Day 1 -- Rope drop day at SeaWorld (stayed from opening to closing 9 - 7) // This is our favorite park in the area. // cooked late dinner at our condo

Day 2 -- Rope drop day at the MK (There from 8 a.m. till midnight) // took a two 1/2 hour break at the Polynesian Hotel -- had dinner at Ohana // made dinner reservations for this for a party of seven several months in advance. Really enjoyed the dinner and the setting.

Day 3 -- slept in // At noon drove out to the Kennedy Space Center and spent a 1/2 day there -- Did the bus tour that is included with admission. I was impressed -- the tour, movies, everything, is much improved since the last time I did this (eight years ago) // ate dinner at Ponderosa

Day 4 -- Rope drop day at Disney Hollywood Studios // stayed for Fatasmic (show is a favorite of my son's) // all meals were in the park

Day 5 -- Sleep in // Did the Titanic Attraction on I-drive (great two hour diversion) // spent the rest of the day at our resort -- swimming / playing tennis // hanging out // cooked meals at condo

Day 6 -- We had to fly back -- First we stopped at SeaWorld and did the Manta twice. Then we got a ride to the airport. My parents were staying longer in the area and gave us a ride. (SeaWorld tickets give a second day free within seven days - just stop at the customer service desk for your tickets to come back before leaving the park.)

There is so much to pick and choose from in Orlando // so many good choices. I let DS (15) plan this entire itinary and was super happy with all of his choices. He likes so many of the same things that I do, so I thought this would be a perfectly safe bet. The only thing that I added that wasn't his pick was dinner at Ohana / the break at the Polynesian on our MK day. DH stayed home -- He doesn't care for Florida or theme parks. Other family members joined us for some of our activities -- My parents, my godparents, and my cousin. Four of us were at the condo the whole time DS, me, and my parents. My godparents stayed with us one night (They live in about an hour away.) My cousin from Tampa stayed with us at the condo for three nights too.

 

[Missyrose]

Here's my TR from last fall, when we stayed at Mystic Dunes. Hope this helps!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2602102

 

[kathy884]

We stay offsite all the time. We visit Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, go shopping, orange picking, stay at the pool home to relax and swim, go sight seeing, go to the beach on both sides, dinner shows, Cirque du Soleil, golf and mini golf etc. There's different local festivals and events all year, Legoland will be opening this fall, there's Gatorland, Titanic Museum, Ripley's, Wonderworks, Kennedy Space Center etc.
It all depends whether we're having a theme park marathon visit or just a relaxing visit.

Good summary of the many different options to pick and choose from in the area.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm planning a little different vacation this year and I'd like to see what others that stayed offsite did.

About half my stays are offsite, about half on. There's not much difference between them, honestly, but I drive myself, avoid EMHs, etc. even when staying onsite.

 

[Darcy03231]

We've done both. When we stay off-site we tend to do more things in the area - Seaworld, Universal, Busch Gardens, Kennedy Space Center, Ripleys, dinner shows, etc. We'll also do pool days at the house. It tends to make for a much more relaxing vacation. I think the mentality is that when we stay on-site it costs so much that we feel we have to pack everything. When we stay off-site it's less expensive and we tend to slow down more.
I also find we tend to eat more meals in or do take out (which again saves more money).

 

[two*little*birds]

Here is ours from 2009 when we stayed at Windsor Hills...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2319663

 

[obxlover]

I don't have a trip report but I can give you a little insight on off property. We stayed in a 6 bedroom house in Windsor Palms in June with 2 other families. I did not miss staying on property, we just stayed at OKW in November. I enjoyed having the space of a house, a washer/dryer in the house, and the ability to save money by cooking some of our meals.

We were not too far from the parks, the only park that gave us a headache was MK just because of the parking situation. We always went back to the house for a break mid day because of the heat and the ages of the children, and it didn't seem that we were taking too much of our day traveling to and fro. One day we were back at the house is less than 35 minutes from MK, I was shocked that we made it back that quickly.

I would not hesitate to stay off property again.

Hope this helps.

 

[stacy347]

Here is my trip report from last year's offsite trip (never quite finished it, but you'll get the idea). We stayed at Seralago and it was a very budget trip, but we had so much fun!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2477541